Physical Quantity
The physical properties of a body that can be measured are known
as physical quantities. Example: Length, mass, volume, temperature
etc.
Unit
The quantity of a constant magnitude which is used to measure the
magnitudes of the physical quantities.
Example : Unit of length is metre, unit of mass is kg, unit of velocity
m/s-2 etc.
Fundamental unit
The units of the fundamental quantities are called fundamental
units. Example: The fundamental unit of mass is kg, the
fundamental unit of length is metre, the fundamental unit of time is
second etc.
Derived unit
The units that are derived from the combination of the fundamental
units are known as the derived units. Example: The derived unit of
force kg.m/s, the derived unit of pressure kg.m–1.s–2 etc.
System of Units
The combination of fundamental units and derived units are known
as system of units.
Types of Measuring Systems
CGS System
Centimetre, Gram and Second
FPS System
Foot, Pound and Second
MKS or SI System
Metre, kilogram and second
Measurements
Error
The result of every measurement by any measuring instrument
contains some uncertainty. This uncertainty is known as error.
Least Count
The smallest value that can be measured by the measuring
instrument is called its least count.
Actual Or True Value
The average of the measured values of a measurement is known as
the actual value or true value.
Accuracy
Accuracy of a measurement is a measure of how close the measured
value is to the true value of the quantity. Example : If the true value
of gravitational acceleration is 9.8 m/s2 and the measured value is
9.7 or 9.8 m/s2 then it is accuracy of a measurement.
Precision
Precision is known as at what resolution or limit the quantity is
measured.
